[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 22, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4713-S4714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mrs. Fischer):
  S. 2643. A bill to require a report by the Federal Communications 
Commission on designated market areas; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Let Our 
Communities Access Local TV Act, or the LOCAL TV Act.
  I am pleased that I've had the opportunity to collaborate with my 
friend and colleague, Senator Fischer, and I know we both look forward 
to working with our fellow colleagues on the Commerce, Science and 
Transportation Committee to see that this legislation is enacted.
  The LOCAL TV Act directs the Federal Communications Commission to 
study the impact of media market areas and to assess their impact on 
the ability of individuals to receive relevant, local news and 
information.
  The current structure of media markets is one in which market areas 
can sprawl across State lines, creating situations in which you can 
live in one State, but be exclusively saddled in the media market of 
another.
  My state of New Jersey is particularly affected by this situation 
because

[[Page S4714]]

it is one of only two States in the entire Nation that is served 
exclusively by out-of-state media markets. We are served by New York 
and Pennsylvania--both great places but not New Jersey.
  Why does this matter? When someone in Patterson, Freehold, or Cape 
May, New Jersey turns on their local broadcast station--they are lucky 
when they find stories about their community's latest news, schools, 
and our local governments. This kind of New Jersey news, unfortunately, 
takes a back seat to that of neighboring Philadelphia and New York.
  These pre-determined media markets often stifle our ability to hear 
about what's happening back home. We hear more about Philadelphia and 
New York City than we do about Morristown, Montclair, Camden and Jersey 
City.
  To be sure, broadcast TV plays an important role in communities. It 
is particularly essential during emergencies and extreme weather 
events--for instance during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Even while 
technology continues to grow and change the way we receive information, 
still 74 percent of adults get their news from their local broadcast 
stations, or from their broadcasters' websites.
  Because of the existing digital divide, the number of people who rely 
on broadcast television is even higher when we look at low income 
communities. We owe them quality coverage of the local news and 
information they care about.
  It is my hope that with further study and recommendations from the 
Federal Communications Commission we can continue the dialogue on how 
stations can best serve local communities, especially those who find 
themselves in media markets that cross state lines. I urge my 
colleagues to support the LOCAL TV ACT so that we can obtain more data 
and information on these markets.

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